TRADES COUNCILS CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2474, 13 April 1909, Page 6

TRADES COUNCILS CONFERENCE.

REMITS FROM EAST COAST

COUNCIL

At the annual meeting of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council on Saturday evening, a letter was received from the Executive of the New ZoaJand Trades and Labor Conference, asking for remits for the conference to be held in July at Wellington. Mr. T. Williams proposed the following as a remit: “That the Conference be" urged to approach the Australian Federation of Labor with the view to amalgamation and thus consolidating Labor.” Mr. Gratton seconded the motion, which was adopted. Mr. C. Catton brought forward the •question of establishing workmen’s homes in Gisborne. He stated that the •Government were only charging 9s 6cl for houses which in Gisborne were commanding Lis 6d per week. He went fully into the subject, and urged that a monster petition should be got up on the question. The President stated that ho was in full sympathy with the proposal, but .any forward movement as suggested must be given notice of, so as to allow of its discussion by the unions. Mr. Catton then gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Council, “'['hat a monster petition be circulated, urging the Government to establish workmen’s homes in Gisborne.' 5 Mr. J. H. Hall then moved a remit for the conference as follows: “That -the Conference urge the Government to go an more extensively for the building -of workmen’s homes in the larger towns outside the chief centres,” Ho considered the adoption of such a remit bv the conference would be of great -assistance to the Council in its endeavors to secure workmen’s homes in '■Gisborne. Mr. T. Williams seconded the rrctiOi 1 , and after several delegates had warmly supported the proposal, the remit was adopted. Mr. J. H. Hall moved the following Eremit: “That the Government be urged -to amend the Licensing Act so as to Tallow of the licensing poll being taken -on a dav separate to that of the general election; also, that, the reduction Issue in the ballot paper be eliminated and State control inserted.” Mr. C. J. Bollen seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr. T. Williams proposed the following as a remit: “That the Government he urged to supervise the sanitary affairs of each town by appointing sanitary inspectors as direct Government officials.” Mr. R. G. Haycock seconded the motion and after Mr. T. B. Sweet had -spoken strongly in its favor, the remit was adopted. , , , Mr. C. Catton raised a protest against the free immigration of domestic servants, and moved tho following remit: “That the Conference protests strongly against tho proposal to grant free immigration to domestic servants. Mr. Gratton seconded the motion. Mr." T. Williams, in a strong speech, supported the motion, holding that the people should not he taxed to import servants for the well-to-do, hut that if domestics were required, the mistresses themselves should pay the passagemoney of the servants. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Williams moved as a remit a motion censuring Sir Joseph Ward in liis presentation of a Dreadnought to England. On a question being raised as to whether such was a remit, the President held that such a motion was not suitable for a remit, and ruled it out of di-dor. Mr Wiliams then brought up the question of the Council being represented at the Conference. After a favorable discussion the matter was referred to the unions for consideration, the subject to be dealt with by tho Council at its next meeting.